Dreammaker of the Hokage!
The Sword Saint of Konoha
Knock, knock, knock!
Somewhere in one of Konoha's single dormitory buildings, Naruto stood outside a familiar door, pounding on it with all his might.
"Kakashi-sensei! Hey, Kakashi-sensei!"
A slightly surprised voice called out behind him.
"Naruto?"
Startled, Naruto spun around. Kakashi had appeared out of nowhere, standing just a few paces away.
"Yo." Kakashi raised a hand lazily in greeting. "Looking for me?"
"Finally! I thought I'd never find you!" Naruto's sulky face brightened immediately at the sight of his teacher. But a second later, he puffed out his cheeks in frustration. "Where the heck did you go?! I've been knocking like crazy!"
Kakashi scratched the back of his head and chuckled half-heartedly. "Haha, I had to step out for something."
"You came to talk, right? Come in." With that, Kakashi walked past Naruto and pulled out his key to open the door.
Naruto gave a quick nod and followed him in—into a place he'd never visited before.
The room was small. A compact one-bedroom with no entrance hall and no partitions. Everything was plainly furnished.
A single bed took up most of the space. Beside it sat a low table stacked with books and magazines. In one corner stood a modest wardrobe.
It was tidy—spotless floors, everything neatly arranged. Clearly, Kakashi was the type who liked things in order.
"Whoa—Kakashi-sensei, your place is tiny!" Naruto looked around bluntly, eyes sparkling with curiosity as he sized up every corner.
Kakashi closed the door behind him and sighed. "Stop snooping, Naruto."
But before he could finish the sentence, Naruto had already started spinning in place like a curious cat. He even picked up a book from the bedside—
"Eh? 'Make-Out Paradise'? This is that book you're always reading, right?!"
Kakashi's eye twitched. In one swift motion, he crossed the room, snatched the book out of Naruto's hands, and stuffed it on the top shelf behind him like it was top-secret material.
"Ahem. Not for kids."
Naruto pouted. "Stingy! It's just a book. Not like it's some kind of treasure."
Kakashi could only smile helplessly.
This kid… barges into my house and pokes around like he owns the place. Should've left him at the door.
Truth be told, Kakashi had other pressing matters to look into—but now that Naruto was here, kicking him out seemed… unkind. He resigned himself to the situation with a silent sigh.
"Ahem," Kakashi cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track. "You said you had something you wanted to ask me?"
"Oh, right!" Naruto perked up, just about to bring up the Rasengan—when his eyes caught something on the nightstand.
"Eh?!"
He stepped forward, lifting a slightly worn photo frame. The picture inside—familiar. Unnervingly familiar.
Four people stood in the photograph.
In the front row, three kids: a black-haired boy grinning behind a pair of goggles, a white-haired brat with an obnoxious look, and a girl next to them flashing a peace sign like a cheerful neighbor.
Behind them—stood a man. Blonde hair. Hands resting on the boys' heads.
And it was that man that made Naruto's eyes widen in shock.
"D-Dad?! Kakashi-sensei, why do you have a photo of my dad?!"
Kakashi whipped his head around, startled, only to see Naruto staring at the photo, his expression frozen in disbelief.
Naruto held up the frame, finger pointing straight at the blond man's face. "This guy… he looks exactly like my dad! Or—not quite—like the man I keep seeing in my dreams! Kakashi-sensei, I've been dreaming about him nonstop lately. That's him!"
The room fell into a sudden hush.
Kakashi stood there, stunned—his mind grinding to a halt. What?!
How could I forget… Naruto saw him. In the dreamscape.
Naruto, thinking Kakashi hadn't heard him, repeated earnestly, "Look! The blond guy in the photo—he's just like the dad I saw in my dream! I always thought it was just a fantasy, something I made up… but he's real! You even know him!"
His eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and hope. He stared at the picture again, confirming every detail. "Exactly the same. Golden hair, blue eyes, even the way he smiles—it's like looking at me! Wait, actually…" Naruto scratched the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly. "He does look kinda like me, huh?"
For a second, he almost sounded embarrassed—like realizing he might be complimenting himself.
But inside, his heart was pounding.
So that man from my dreams… he really existed? And he's someone Kakashi-sensei knew?
Naruto turned back toward Kakashi, eyes full of hope, silently pleading for answers.
But Kakashi… said nothing.
"Kakashi-sensei…?" Naruto called out, confused.
Kakashi had one hand on his forehead. His exposed eye looked away, evading Naruto's gaze.
He was frozen. The words just wouldn't come.
What could he even say?
Yes. That's your father. The Fourth Hokage. Namikaze Minato.
Yes. The man the Third Hokage hid from you your entire life.
How was he supposed to drop a truth bomb like that… now?
But if he didn't say anything, Naruto—being Naruto—would never let it go.
Cold sweat trickled down Kakashi's temple. He opened his mouth, about to spin some excuse—but before he could say a word, Naruto's attention had shifted again.
He squinted at the other figures in the photo and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! This grumpy little brat with the white hair—don't tell me this is you, Kakashi-sensei?! Hahaha! You look just like Sasuke! All smug and stuck-up!"
He waved his hand with mock disdain.
Then, pointing to the black-haired boy in goggles, Naruto's eyes lit up again. "But this guy looks pretty cool! The goggles kind of remind me of my old look, actually."
Kakashi, seeing the topic drift away like a blessing from the gods, quietly exhaled a long breath.
Thank goodness. Naruto really is a little angel sometimes.
"I… used to be on a team with them," Kakashi said softly, walking over and taking the photo frame from Naruto's hands. His tone lost its usual nonchalance. "They were my teammates. And my teacher. They're all… gone now."
"Wha…" Naruto opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
He watched Kakashi silently wipe dust from the frame. The always-lazy, unbothered teacher now stood with his head bowed—expression unreadable.
They were all people Kakashi-sensei once cared about?
Naruto suddenly realized—Kakashi might act like he's got it all together, like he doesn't care about much… but deep down, he was someone who'd lost a lot too.
Maybe even more than I have.
That burst of curiosity, that giddy feeling from moments ago—it all faded into a dull ache.
Naruto clenched his fist, then released it. He scratched his head awkwardly and mumbled, "Sorry, Kakashi-sensei. I didn't know…"